Highly uniform prepreg mats comprising inorganic fibers and powered ceramic matrix materials, useful for the manufacture of ceramic matrix composite articles, are provided by a process wherein continuous fiber tows infiltrated with a thermoplastic suspension of the matrix powder are preheated, uniformly collected on a heated drum or other support, and then cooled and compacted with a pressure roller or the like to achieve a prepreg mat structure characterized by a homogeneous distribution of fibers and ceramic matrix material.